Aldon Smith's Suspension Reportedly May Be Shortened by 1-2 Games

A struggling San Francisco 49ers pass rush might get outside linebacker Aldon Smith back early from his nine-game suspension.According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, "Theres a chance that the suspension will be lifted a game or two early." Smith was suspended in late August under the NFL's substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.Florio noted that Smith's suspension has been unlike many others of its ilk:Then again, other aspects of Smiths suspension werent announced, or explained. For example, Smith had appeal rights that apparently were waived by the player. Likewise, the league twisted its policies regarding player banishment from the team facility to allow Smith to continue to show up during his suspension, even though players suspended under the personal conduct policy always are ordered to stay away until fully reinstated.Its possible that the league office dangled a different carrot for Smith, encouraging him to go above and beyond his expected behavior with the hope of possibly being allowed to return a little early.After the report from Florio before the team's Sunday Night Football encounter with the Denver Broncos, general manager Trent Baalke noted that he has not heard anything akin to a reduced suspension for his star linebacker, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The league itself then told Maiocco that "there is no update on Smith's status."The initial suspension was tallied as four games for substance-abuse violations and five more for personal-conduct violations, per ESPN's Ed Werder.Entering Sunday's game against the Broncos, the 49ers ranked No. 2 against the pass and No. 5 against the rush despite the absences of Smith and NaVorro Bowman, as well as a recent injury to fellow linebacker Patrick Willis. In that same span, though, the unit had generated just 10 sacks.As things currently stand, Smith is eligible to return to the active roster on Nov. 10, one day after the team visits New Orleans in Week 10 for a critical NFC duel against the Saints.
Click here to read full news..